The manor had some unexpected visitors that day. Unlike other instances, at least no one was under danger, or on a mission, quest or even bearing bad news. It was as social as a visit could get, especially when talking about the deities that arrived from Ithaquack.

Della poured coffee as Selene gazed around the kitchen with that easy going smile and attitude.

"It's nice to have some time to catch up" Della said, the genuine happiness in her tone made Selene smirk.

"You are more than welcome to visit me too, you know? With that plane of yours you should make good time. That other pilot sure breaks records"

"Even in air traffic, one should respect a few laws of speed limits" Della snorted, handing Selene a cup "but I promise I'll visit soon. I just have been…sorting some things"

Selene raised a brow questioningly, but Della deflected, allowing a silence to fill in.

"It's going to be the anniversary…" the deity said in a gentle tone, still, Della chocked on her drink.

"I have been back for less than a year" Della countered, attempting to compose herself.

"I meant the launch" she held her gaze, knowing Della was well aware of it.

Della lowered her eyes to the mug "Is that why you came to visit?"

"It couldn't hurt" she admitted, shrugging lightly "I also miss hanging out with my best friend"

Della smirked tentatively "Thanks for coming" she mumbled "there's not much to talk about the matter, thought" she added "I got myself on a ship eleven years ago, got lost, came back. End of story"

"That's a short story if you subtract your feelings like that"

"That's what happened" Della said curtly, if there was annoyance in her tone, it wasn't aimed at the goddess and somehow that worried Selene all the more.

But soon their attention was redirected as some laughter echoed just before two figures walked in.

"Hey girls" Della greeted.

"Hi Della, we were-" Webby cut herself off as her eyes landed on the tall woman and so she ran and somersaulted to land a hug on the deity "I didn't know you were visiting!"

"Hello little one!" she answered the embrace "It's good to see you"

"Is there a great danger only the clan McDuck can face and you've come to recruit the bravest souls of the household?" she asked in a rush, her eyes more excited by the minute.

"Not really, just came to say hi and have a nice little talk with Della" Selene said "but if I ever need a warrior you'll be first on my list to summon"

"Yes!" she jumped to the floor, walking back to Lena, who was glued to her place, her face blank except for her eyes that were fixated on the tall figure with something close to horror in them.

"Oh, hey Kiddo, I guess you two haven't met" Della stood up walking to the teen "this is my friend-"

"Selene" Lena said, her voice betrayed how absolutely terrified she was.

The deity was taken aback by that "Not usually the reaction I get out of mortals, that's more of my dad's thing" she said while standing up, suddenly aware of the odd feeling surrounding her, a kind of aura that clashed against her very own, one emanating from the teen.

"Selene, this is my best friend, Lena!" Webby grabbed the witch's hand, almost forcefully making Lena take two steps forward before she actually put physical effort into keeping distance from the goddess. Webby frowned, she knew Lena didn't like strangers, but this was something else entirely. Lena apparently even knew her name, so why did she mistrust her so badly?

And just as the deity gazed down at the teen, meeting her eyes, really recognizing her aura, two words escaped her beak with utter surprise "De Spell"

Lena tugged her hand free from Webby's, backing away several steps before Della caught her in arms "Hey, hey, honey" she cooed trying to meet her eyes, finding them crystalized and lost.

"How are you emanating her dark magic?" Selene took a step closer, towering over the teen with a deep frown that darkened her otherwise immaculate face. The way her shadow casted over the girl managed to make Lena flinch and recoil, holding into Della's sleeve, hiding behind her.

"Hold it right there" Della Duck extended an arm protectively in front of Lena, turning towards the goddess with a stern and determined face, holding her gaze steadily "You are scaring her"

Selene blinked; coming out of her own trance at the sight of her dearest friend standing up to her, just to ensure the girl was alright. The goddess then realized her own actions had been nothing short of frightening, given that she was imposing over a mere…mortal?

She gazed back and forward between the three ducks in front of her, even Webby was in a fighting stance, ready to jump into action if given a cue.

"I'm sorry" Selene reeled back, kneeling down to be at somewhat the same eye level "I shouldn't have reacted like that" she offered, but her frown returned, just this time not directed at her, just showing plain confusion "I just recognized her magic and…it triggered me"

Della breathed in calmly, nodding for Webby to stand down before turning to Lena to make sure the teen was still there and hadn't flee with the shadows. But to her credit, she stood her ground- or rather- she had grabbed into her arm in seek of protection and had decided that she was safer behind Della than running off. The thought almost distracted Della from the other issue at hand.

"Honey?" she called softly. Lena finally snapped her eyes from Selene's to land on the ones that gazed at her in a comforting manner.

So Lena forced her shoulders to relax as she let go of the aviator jacket, stepping forward, just as Webby reached her side holding her hand.

"Magica…created me, from her shadow" she said as a mix of emotions threatened to take over her voice. So Webby hold on tighter "to have her revenge over Scrooge McDuck after he trapped her on his first dime"

Selene squinted her eyes before they went wide "Fifteen years ago" she said at the sudden realization "she grabbed power from the moon, I knew she had done something but I could never put my finger on it"

"That was me" Lena nodded, shrugging.

"You have her magic, the one she took from the moon"

Lena tensed up again, holding on to herself "No! I-I have my own magic, I don't use hers or yours, you don't have to take it away"

Selene was aback by the reaction, finding that even Della was confused by it, only Webby found a way to comfort her "No one is taking it, you are not going to disappear"

"Disappear?" Selene repeated.

Webby turned to them with a sad expression "Someone already tried to take her magic, without it…" she left the rest unsaid; she couldn't bear the idea of losing her a second time.

"I'm not going to take it" Selene assured, she was about to pat the teen's shoulder, but Lena recoiled out of reflex "I guess…since you were made from her magic, I just felt her aura, that's all"

"She's nothing like Magica" Webby said determined.

"I'm sure that's true" Selene nodded looking sympathetically at the girl "Can you believe me when I say I don't mean to harm you?"

Lena forced some air into her lungs avoiding shivering "Aunt-" she backtracked wincing at the word "Magica" she corrected "…she was terrified of you. I think she feared you more than she feared even the idea of death"

"I'll…take that as an unusual compliment" Selene blinked. She had a long feud with the witch; she just never assumed the powerful sorcerer saw her like that much of a threat. Perhaps it was not her in particular, but the idea that without Selene's lunar power, Magica would lose much of her own abilities. In a strange sense, Magica needed her.

But that also clicked.

"You inherited her fear" Della said softly, putting a hand over Lena's shoulder, feeling her shrug into herself like a cocoon.

It finally made sense for Selene why this shadow- no, not shadow, Lena- was so terrified of her. Because if the deity ever tried to take the magic back, she would erase her from the face of the earth, because as a replica of Magica, she had that fear embalmed into her flesh like a fresh burn.

"I'm never going to take the magic used to create you" Selene said in a soft voice "whatever issue I have with Magica has nothing to do with you" she gazed at the other two "and I can see that if these fearless warriors are willing to step up to me to protect you, then you are worth fighting for"

Lena felt the small smile take over her beak as Webby hugged her tightly on a side and Della wrapped an arm around her shoulders from the other.

Selene smiled back, standing up again, going back to her seat, ready to enjoy her coffee.

Lena took the brief opportunity of hugging Webby back while Della's eyes landed on Selene's to thank her mutedly for the support.

The goddess simply raised her mug in a cheering gesture and took a sip of it. There was always a new surprise when it came to this particular family.

Della set her empty mug down; it was just Selene and her in the kitchen.

"Thank you" she finally said "for what you said to her" Della tilted her head towards the door.

Selene only smiled back before shifting her position, trying to find the words to say it "You stood up to me" she voiced out loud "for her" she met her eyes.

"I didn't mean to disrespect-"

"Disrespect? You are talking to me like a worshiper" she shook her head "You impressed me, Della" she said "it was a compliment" she explained "you've known me for so long and still you didn't blink to jump to her defense. That was outstanding"

Della frown confused "T-thanks?"

Selene sighed softly "You don't quite know where I'm coming from with this" she tapped her mug "it was nice to see your former self. So fearless and determined"

"I'm still me" Della refuted a bit wounded.

"I can see beyond your eyes" she explained "same way I felt the kid's aura, I know when something is troubling you and trying to hide it away won't help you. But when you saw Lena feel that same way, hurt and frightened, you left your own fear aside to take care of her. You need to give that same dedication to yourself"

Della opened her beak, then shut it, unable to come up with a response.

"It's admirable to see the extent you'll go for those you love, but you need to procure your own well-being before saving others. You can't neglect your own state in favor of the people around you, even if that's a coping mechanism. You need help too"

Della tensed involuntarily. Her shoulders became knots as her jaw clenched. Her sight fixated on the table, her blood was boiling.

"I've upset you, I know"

"It's not that!" Della snapped holding her head in a hand, avoiding her gaze while anger swirled on her insides "I- I know…I understand what you are saying, I do" she exhaled frustrated with herself "but you don't understand what I've been through"

"I don't" she nodded softly "but if I want to, then you need to talk to me"

Della hugged herself tight "I…I don't feel like I can"

Selene blinked surprised; perhaps hurt "You don't trust me?"

Della ran a hand through her hair, feeling an uncomfortable warmth run through her body "You…you remind me of…of the moon" she finally said "and…it…it makes me feel…" words didn't come out after that.

Selene felt foolish for not realizing that before "That's what I represent, the association-"

"Yeah, it…it's there" she held onto herself tighter.

Then another thought crossed Selene's mind like a lightning strike "Do you blame me for not knowing you were there?"

"There was no way you could have known" Della said.

"That's not what I am asking…" the deity shook softly.

Della shrugged, her face flushed madly "…I…I did" she admitted brokenly "I thought my best friend would have seen or felt or noticed that I wasn't here, that I was in her very own element and…and it hurt me that you didn't missed me or noticed me"

"Della I-" she tried to reach for her hand, but ultimately let her own fall back on the table "Time is very different for me, what were years for you, were more like months for me" Selene said gently but Della didn't met her eyes "still, I should have asked…I should have reached out too. When your child came to meet me I thought it was you and...when I learned he was looking for you I realized something vital for me was missing too" she exhaled "and you are right to be mad at me for so many things. If I had visited and heard about all of this sooner I could have helped or at least be there in the uprising of your children" there was true regret in her tone "You are my friend, Della and I'm…I'm sorry. I should have been a better friend to you"

Della wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her aviator, breathing in unevenly.

"I'm sorry, too. For so many things" Della clenched her fists tight "and you weren't responsible for any of it" she breathed out "I was not expecting you to raise my kids or fill my absency, that was not your job or Donald's or Scrooge's" she hid her face on her palm, defeated "I was...I was so immature and irresponsible. It took me to touch the stars to realized I had lost everything that matter most to me" tears slipped out of her eyes "sometimes it's like I haven't come back at all"

Selene reached for her hand "I do want to understand you"

"It's…hard to put it in words"

"But she gets it, doesn't she?" Selene inquired, tilting her head to a side "Lena?"

Della offered a small genuine smile "yeah, she does"

Selene nodded in understanding "My point stands, though" she added gently "you can't neglect yourself"

Della let out a sigh, she felt exhausted "I know" she smirked weakly

"But it's easier to help her instead?" Selene offered and Della chuckled.

"Believe it or not, helping her...helps me" she shrugged in her seat "I love my boys, they are the most important thing in my life and I know they love me but...they grew up without me. They...they don't reach out to me or almost any other adult, they are incredibly independent. If they have a problem, they are more likely to rely on each other or Donald. And I can't blame them, they barely know me, right? Other than the fact that I am their mother, there's no reason for them to even trust me" a dry humorless laugh escaped her beak.

Selene reached out squishing her shoulder tenderly. Della sniffed but continued "Lena, though? She never had a figure to guide her through. I mean, having Magica as a parent?" she made a sour face "She never had the opportunity of being a kid, of being cared for and I never had the chance to do that for anyone so..." she left the rest unsaid "and she's so mature, so unfairly so. She had to grow up to fullfil what she was condemned to be and still managed to become her own person" she said proudly "and shadows and empty space share a lot in common" she added heavily "so we can relate, sympathize and...bond over an experience I wouldn't even wish upon Magica herself" she paused pondering for a sec "okay, maybe I would wish it upon her just so she had a taste of what she made the kid go through, but you get my point"

Selene smiled softly, laughing quietly "I see" she gazed down "Thank you, Della. For telling me this"

The duck smiled back equally timidly "You are still my best fiend. I just need a bit of time to learn again all the little things"

"Good thing I have plenty of time and I am a very patient person, for those who are worth the effort"

Della smiled back openly "Thanks, Selene"

The deity held gazed before her attention was taken away by the feeling of the aura that was approaching them. She turned to the door just moments before a knock called and the shadow teen sneaked her head in.

"Hey…" Lena said, clearly nervous "Um…can I have a word?"

"Sure" Della stood up.

"With…with Selene?" she inquired in a quieter voice.

Both women seemed surprised, but the goddess recovered first "By all mean"

Della glanced at her, there was a bit of concern showing in her furrowed brows.

"We'll be fine" Selene assured and the confident smile returned to Della's beak.

"Of course" she walked to the door patting Lena's shoulder on her way out. Now it was just the two of them.

"Take a seat" Selene offered, going back into her chair.

"T-thanks" she shrugged into herself, unable to relax her shoulders, her sight fixed into the table.

Selene gazed at her with newfound compasion "So...Lena. I like the name" she offered and the teen actually chuckled to herself.

"Lena is actually a derivation of Selene, the moon and all" she waved a hand "I-I chose it" she added "I-I don't know why, it just...called to me"

Selene smirked more naturally "I guess we share a few things in common then"

"I...guess" Lena tried to meet her eyes, finding the deity's calmly gazing at her. They were not as threatening as hours prior "You are not as terrifying as I-well, as Magica pictured you to be"

"I'll take that as a compliment" Selene said "I'm sorry my first impression was accurate to her description, though. De Spell just has a special way to get under my skin"

Lena rubbed her chest unconsciously, remembering how the witch had quite literally crawled under her skin, taking possession of her body "Yeah...same" she shivered, shaking her head, she was no longer there, in the back of her mind.

Selene reached out, patting her shoulder. There were no words she could offer, she didn't know the struggle Lena had gone through other than what Della had shared, but it was easy to see Magica was a touchy subject around the teen.

"She can't harm you" Selene offered, she knew Magica was considerably weaker and now that she couldn't take any more power from the moon, she had a shortage of a sort.

"Can you...?" Lena's voice quivered a bit, trying to find the resolve to say it "Can you take her out? For-for good?" she asked shakily "I mean, if she was so afraid of you, it's because you had the potential to end her, right?"

Selene was aback, watching her with awe. The real surprise was not that the teen was asking for revenge, but that she was a kid asking an adult to take her abuser away. She wanted the reassurance, the security that the witch could never harm her again and Lena thought Selene had the power to make that a reality.

"I'm...I'm sorry, Lena. But I can't" she absolutely saw the way something inside the shadow shattered "she was frightened of me for other reasons, not because I could physically harm her. She feared being powerless more than she feared death"

Lena shrugged back into herself "It was stupid to ask, forget it"

Selene felt heartbroken at the sight "Let me tell you something" she gently tilted the teen's chin up "the only one with the power to stop her, is you"

Lena shook her head, pulling away "I'm not strong enough!" she refuted "I've tried, her magic-"

"You are mistaken" Selene interrupted "it's not a matter of magic, but the path to put an end to her reign is solely your own. Only the shadow of Magica could defeat her"

"I can't fight her" Lena reasoned, sounding smaller each time. She was exhausted of standing up to her, of trying to defy who she was and finding her own path away from her legacy.

"I'm not telling you to" Selene said gently "if you fight and hate her, then you are battling against yourself, because at the end of the day, you were a part of her. You changed and forged your own way, the only thing left to do is letting go"

"I-I don't understand"

"If you truly want to step out of her shadow, you need to forgive"

"You don't know what she did to me" her voice was wounded.

"Then begin by forgiving yourself" Selene said "I can feel it in your aura, you carry so much pain and hurt and hatred, that I mistook it for Magica's" she laid a hand over her chest, where her heart would have been "you need to let go of that first and then Magica will be powerless because she won't keep dictating your life, because she won't be occupying your thoughts and energy all the time, because you will free yourself to just be who you need to be. And once she's no longer important to you, she won't have any power over you"

Lena's tears dripped from her chin and landed on the hand Selene rested against her chest.

"You are stronger than you think," Selene said, walking by her side, kneeling next to her. "I can feel your magic and it's so beautiful and pure. And most importantly, it's yours. Don't be afraid to claim it, you've earned the right to do so"

Lena wiped her tears away, embarrasedly "Th-thank you" she barely meet her eyes.

"You are welcome, little one" she carefully wrapped her in a hug and Lena found the real reason Magica feared her so much. Because Selene was pure love when Magica was pure evil.

So Lena hugged her back, because she was determined to never fear being loved again.